By Kaya 959 Reporter
Advocacy group Afriforum has taken up the plight of a young girl who was allegedly pimped out for sex by her grandmother in 2018 when she was six years old.
AfriForum’s Advocate Gerrie Nel said the National Prosecuting Authority decided not to prosecute and the matter was taken up by the group’s Private Prosecution Unit.
Nel said the decision not to prosecute was taken despite the girl’s description of how offenders allegedly pushed a dish sponge into her mouth during the rapes and sexual molestation to prevent her from making any noise.
“Three defendants were charged after the unit became involved in the case on 29 June 2021, but two other suspects identified by the little girl have not yet been arrested, including the grandmother,” he said.
Nel said the matter appeared before the Brits Regional Court.
“The case was adjourned until 28 October because the prosecutor argued that she did not have time to consult with all the witnesses,” Nel said.
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AfriForum slams NPA
Nel accused the government of “merely paying lip service to victims of violence against women and especially children”.
“If the government and the NPA were really serious about combating violence against women and children, we would not have seen cases like today. Several high-ranking politicians make speeches year after year about the state’s commitment to the fight against gender-based violence and violence against children, yet the NPA has decided to issue a nolle prosequi certificate in this matter,” Nel said.
He said when AfriForum took over the case, the prosecutor decided to institute prosecution.
“It is not only justice that suffers from these types of decisions, but especially the young victims of unscrupulous criminals who think they can evade justice,” Nel said.
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